BRASILIA, Jan 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — One person died, and three others were injured after the helicopter they were riding crashed into a lake in the city of Capitolio, located in the Brazilian southeastern state of Minas Gerais, local media reported.
Citing a preliminary report from the local Fire Department, the victims included a group of sightseers visiting Lake Furnas whose helicopter appeared to have technical problems on takeoff, leading the aircraft to crash into the water.
Videos and images released on social media captured the moment of the accident when thousands of people were strolling around the lake during the summer holidays.
According to the Brazilian Air Force, inspectors from the country’s Aeronautical Accident Research and Prevention Center were called to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, up to 725 traffic accidents have been reported over the New Year’s holiday in Brazil, killing 56 people and injuring 903 others, the Federal Highway Police said.
The fatalities were 25 percent lower than a year earlier, the police said in a statement.
The New Year holiday, along with Carnival, is Brazil’s busiest tourism period, it said.
A special road safety operation was launched to combat drunk driving and authorities have thereafter arrested 383 people and seized 557 kg of marijuana, it said. — NNN-XINHUA
